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Ask HN: Is Windows Malware?

1 points by abhinav22 ↗ HN
At every point they are pushing one drive, and other services. Basic local tasks hang because I’m assuming Windows is connecting to a server for telemetry.

Looks like they found an effective way to get around anti trust and abuse their monopoly position in OS and Office.

8 comments

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arthurcolle
Same thing with macOS (pushing iCloud and other junk), as well as many other websites. People want their cashflows ensured. It definitely sucks, but I've started moving to my own solutions for stuff (S3 instead of some garbage overpriced solution from Googlapplesoft, or my own note system) and it feels better. Only you can prevent forest fires!
abhinav22
Agreed 100%. It is so overpriced as well! Apple was okay for a while but after 10 years on OS X I will move completely to Linux in the next cycle.
1vuio0pswjnm7
It is a botnet. Microsoft has never been able to stop computers running Windows from becoming part of botnets. Now these computers are all part of the "Microsoft botnet". Redmond can remotely control computers running Windows, e.g., to install "updates".
abhinav22
If you can’t fight them, just join them!
1vuio0pswjnm7
My thought exactly!

Having the ability to non-interactively install opaque "updates" without user scrutiny is all that the Microsoft botnet needs to remotely control the computers of Windows users, in the same way that a "malicious" botnet needs only to non-interactively install some code on a computer running Windows in order to control it remotely.

raxxorrax
They have a telemetry service (compatibility telemetry) with a bug that kills your CPU for years now that certainly fits the technical definition of malware just fine.
abhinav22
Indeed, they are leaders in this space (Apple slowly taking a page from their book...).
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